The pen is mightier than the sword, and for a group of talented Lake Forest Academy students, it has proven to be a pathway to national recognition. We’re excited to congratulate the seven Caxys from the LFA Chinese class who recently participated in the 22nd Annual National Chinese Essay Contest, sponsored by the Chinese Language Association of Secondary-Elementary Schools (CLASS). This prestigious, advanced-level competition saw over 700 entries from K-12 students across the country for the 2025-2026 school year. This year’s theme, “AI and Me,” challenged students to explore artificial intelligence through imagination, observation and reflection.
Despite the complex topic and large pool of competitors, our Caxys brought home an impressive array of awards. Their success is a testament to their hard work and the strength of LFA’s Chinese program.
Their teacher, Ivy Jiang, was incredibly proud. “Their success came from consistent effort and persistence. Their willingness to participate, challenge themselves, and put a lot of effort into their work made the biggest difference,” Jiang said. By letting the students know the contest expectations and evaluation criteria early on, Jiang played a facilitative role. When asked about the specific preparations for a national-level contest, Jiang emphasized that “much of their preparation came from their day-to-day language learning and writing practice throughout the years.” Jiang believes that the students’ remarkable success came down to two key factors: their genuine intellectual curiosity and constant hard work.
For Riya Kapoor ’28, who earned the Gold Award, the process was both challenging and rewarding. She noted that the most difficult part was tackling the sophisticated topic of AI. “Writing this essay required research into both positive and negative aspects of AI across areas such as education, medicine and social interaction, as well as the environmental impact,” Kapoor’28 explained. “Learning and using Chinese vocabulary related to topics, and to convey a multifaceted view of AI, was also challenging.” Kapoor’28 added.
Beyond technical language, the contest offered a deeper connection to Chinese culture. “China has always been an innovator in technology and AI, so reading more into that was very interesting,” Kapoor’28 shared. When asked about how this experience has deepened students’ understanding or appreciation of the Chinese language and culture, Kapoor’28 said that “competitions like this push me to branch out to different topics, expand my Mandarin vocabulary and enrich my understanding of Chinese culture.”